Field lighting activation system

Abstract

A system for controlling lighting modules at an outdoor facility includes a server that will receive a service request from a mobile device. The request is triggered when the mobile device captures a barcode that is displayed at the facility. The mobile device will send user-selected operational parameters and payment information. In response, the server will generate a command to activate the lighting modules according to the operational parameters, and it will send the command to lighting modules. The lighting modules will operate according to the selected parameters. The server does not need to require any prior authorization from a user of the mobile device.

1 . A lighting system, comprising:
 a server comprising a processor and programming instructions that will, upon execution, cause the server to, in response to receiving a service request from a mobile electronic device, wherein the service request is triggered by the mobile electronic device capturing a barcode that is displayed at an outdoor facility at which one or more lighting modules are present:
 transmit, to the mobile electronic device for output on a user interface, available operational parameters for a selected lighting module that is associated with the barcode; and 
 in response to receiving, from the mobile electronic device, a selection of one or more of the available operational parameters and payment information:
 generating a first command to activate the selected lighting module according to the selected one or more operational parameters, and 
 sending the first command to the selected lighting module for controlling operation of the selected lighting module, 
 
 wherein the server does not require any prior authorization from a user of the mobile electronic device before transmitting the available operational parameters, generating the first command, or sending the first command. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising additional programming instructions to cause the server to, in response to receiving the service request:
 determine whether an administrator electronic device of the lighting system is exercising control of the selected lighting module at a time that the service request is received; and   only generate the first command to activate the selected lighting module after determining that the administrator electronic device is not exercising control of the selected lighting module at the time the service request is received.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising additional programming instructions to cause the server to, after sending the first command to the selected lighting module:
 in response to receiving, from an administrator electronic device, an administrator request to exercise control of the selected one or more lighting modules:
 generate a second command to operate the selected lighting module according to the administrator request; and 
 send the second command to the selected lighting module for controlling operation of the selected lighting module according to the administrator request instead of the selected operational parameters. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the programming instructions for the server to transmit, to the mobile electronic device, the available operational parameters comprise instructions to:
 identify scenes that are available for the selected lighting module, and 
 send operational parameters of the scenes to the mobile electronic device; and 
   the programming instructions for the server to generate the first command to activate the selected lighting module according to the selected one or more operational parameters comprise instructions for the selected lighting module to trigger one of the scenes that is associated with the selected one or more operational parameters.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising the one or more lighting modules, each of which comprises:
 a lighting support that holds one or more luminaires; and   a local controller stack that includes a power supply, control circuitry for controlling the one or more luminaires of the lighting module, and a memory device storing the scenes that are available to that lighting module.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a camera,   wherein the programming instructions will further cause the server to, in response to the selected lighting module being connected to the camera:
 transmit, to the mobile electronic device for output on the user interface, a user-selectable prompt to trigger operation of the camera; and 
 in response to receiving, a user selection of the prompt from the mobile electronic device, include, with the first command, an additional command to operate the camera when activating the selected lighting module according to the selected one or more operational parameters, and 
   wherein the camera is operable to capture video footage of a target area that is illuminated by the selected lighting module in response to receiving the command to operate the camera.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the lighting modules comprises a local controller stack that includes:
 a power supply for powering one or more luminaires of the lighting module;   a power monitor for measuring an amount of energy used by the one or more luminaires of the lighting module;   a communication circuit;   a local processor; and   a memory containing programming instructions that will cause the local processor to, in response to receiving the first command:
 receive, from the power monitor, a measurement of energy used by the one or more luminaires of the lighting module when operating according to the selected one or more operational parameters, and 
 send the measurement of energy to the server. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of the one or more lighting modules, each of which comprises a lighting support that holds one or more luminaires; and   a gateway controller, which comprises a processor and a wireless communication system,   wherein the instructions to send the first command to the selected lighting module comprise instructions to send the first command to the gateway controller for controlling operation of the selected lighting module.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions further comprise instructions to, in response to receiving the selection of one or more of the available operational parameters and payment information, communicate with a third-party service and cause the third-party service to send information to the selected lighting module for outputting while implementing the first command. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the third-party service comprises a severe weather service or emergency alert service that sends emergency signals to the selected lighting module;   the selected lighting module comprises a local controller stack that includes a memory storing a scene with parameters for changing light output by the selected lighting module in response to receiving an emergency signal; and   the emergency signal will, when received by the local controller stack, cause the local controller stack to implement the scene at the selected lighting module.   
     
     
         11 . A method of activating a lighting system, the method comprising:
 by a server, in response to receiving a service request from a mobile electronic device, wherein the service request was triggered by the mobile electronic device capturing a barcode that is displayed at an outdoor facility at which one or more lighting modules are present:
 transmitting, to the mobile electronic device for output on a user interface, available operational parameters for a selected lighting module that is associated with the barcode, and 
 in response to receiving, from the mobile electronic device, a selection of one or more of the available operational parameters and payment information:
 generating a first command to activate the selected lighting module according to the selected one or more operational parameters, and 
 sending the first command to the selected lighting module for controlling operation of the selected lighting module, 
 
 wherein the server does not require any prior authorization from a user of the mobile electronic device before transmitting the available operational parameters, generating the first command, or sending the first command. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising, by the server in response to receiving the service request:
 determining whether an administrator electronic device of the lighting system is exercising control of the selected lighting module at a time that the service request is received; and 
 only generating the first command to activate the selected lighting module after determining that the administrator electronic device is not exercising control of the selected lighting module at the time the service request is received. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 by the server after sending the first command to the selected lighting module and in response to receiving, from an administrator electronic device, an administrator request to exercise control of the selected one or more lighting modules:
 generating a second command to operate the selected lighting module according to the administrator request; and 
 sending the second command to the selected lighting module for controlling operation of the selected lighting module according to the administrator request instead of the selected operational parameters. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 transmitting the available operational parameters to the mobile electronic device comprises:
 identifying scenes that are available for the selected lighting module, and 
 sending operational parameters of the scenes to the mobile electronic device; and 
   the first command to activate the selected lighting module according to the selected one or more operational parameters will, when implemented by the selected lighting module, cause the selected lighting module to trigger one of the scenes that is associated with the selected one or more operational parameters.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the scenes are stored in a memory device of a local controller stack that is included in the selected lighting module. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 by the server:
 transmitting, to the mobile electronic device for output on a user interface, a user-selectable prompt to trigger operation of a camera that is connected to the selected lighting module, and 
 in response to receiving a user selection of the prompt from the mobile electronic device, including, with the first command, an additional command to operate the camera when activating the selected lighting module according to the selected one or more operational parameters, and 
   by the camera in response to receiving the command to operate the camera, capturing video footage of a target area that is illuminated by the selected lighting module.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, by the server:
 receiving, from a local controller stack of the selected lighting module, a measurement of energy used by one or more luminaires of the lighting module when operating according to the selected one or more operational parameters, and   in response to an energy usage restriction being in place when receiving the measurement of energy and the measurement of energy being higher than a threshold amount, causing the lighting module to limit operation of the one or more luminaires.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein sending the first command to the selected lighting module comprises sending the first command to a gateway controller for controlling operation of the selected lighting module. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising, by the server in response to receiving the selection of one or more of the available operational parameters and payment information, communicating with a third-party service and causing the third-party service to send information to the selected lighting module for outputting while implementing the first command. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the third-party service comprises a severe weather service or emergency alert service that sends an emergency signal to the selected lighting module;   the selected lighting module comprises a memory storing a scene with parameters for changing light output by the selected lighting module; and   the received emergency signal will, when received by the local controller stack, cause the selected lighting module to implement the scene at the selected lighting module.   
     
     
         21 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory memory device storing programming instructions that will, upon execution, cause a processor to:
 in response to receiving a service request from a mobile electronic device, wherein the service request was triggered by the mobile electronic device capturing a barcode that is displayed at an outdoor facility at which one or more lighting modules are present:   transmit, to the mobile electronic device for output on the user interface, available operational parameters for a selected lighting module that is associated with the barcode; and   in response to receiving, from the mobile electronic device, a selection of one or more of the available operational parameters and payment information:
 generate a first command to activate the selected lighting module according to the selected one or more operational parameters, and 
 send the first command to the selected lighting module for controlling operation of the selected lighting module, 
   wherein the processor does not require any prior authorization from a user of the mobile electronic device before transmitting the available operational parameters, generating the first command, or sending the first command.